Myanmar: Enter the Dragon

Insight Myanmar

“They are using each other for their own benefit.”

With these words framing a delicate topic, Wai Yan Phyo Naing returns to the podcast for a second conversation—this time offering listeners a deep exploration of Myanmar’s evolving entanglement with China.

In his first appearance, he traced his path from studying international relations in Moscow to working with migrants in Thailand, reflecting on his rare experience as one of the few civilian Burmese students in Russia. He also shared his nuanced response to Myanmar’s 2021 coup, insights into the mindset of young Burmese military officers abroad, and thoughtful reflections on Buddhism, loyalty, and the complex moral choices confronting Myanmar’s religious and political figures.

As a researcher and lecturer trained in international relations and modern history, with academic work spanning from the Cold War to the Belt and Road Initiative, Wai Yan Phyo Naing approaches the topic of Sino-Myanmar relations with the precision of a historian and the realism of a political analyst. His earlier research traced the evolution of these relations from 1988 through the early 2010s, focusing on how changing domestic politics and global alignments shaped the partnership. That background informs his podcast discussion, where he offers an unflinching look at the dynamics between these two unequal but interdependent neighbors.

Wai Yan Phyo Naing emphasizes that Myanmar and China’s relationship is one of pragmatic necessity rather than friendship or ideology. Each side turns to the other when convenient and withdraws when costs rise. For Myanmar, China’s permanent seat on the UN Security Council and its policy of non-interference provide crucial diplomatic cover during periods of Western sanctions or condemnation. For China, Myanmar represents a vital corridor to the Indian Ocean, reducing dependence on the narrow Malacca Strait. Both countries thus operate out of strategic self-interest, continually testing how much advantage they can extract without losing autonomy. “China is only interested in its national interests,” Wai Yan Phyo Naing states firmly. “China is ready to communicate with whoever becomes powerful in Myanmar.” These remarks sum up the cold logic underlying China’s pragmatism, which, for him, Myanmar must recognize without resentment.